The Dodgers’ ‘horrific homestand’ comes to end as Rockies capture series

Colorado Rockies' Justin Morneau, right, is slides in for a double as the throw from left field goes past Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Dodgers were looking for franchise win No. 10,000 and hoping to break even on the last day of a 10-game homestand, but they forgot to show up.

The Dodgers dropped into a second-place tie with Colorado in the National League West and finished their homestand 4-6 after a 6-1 loss to the Rockies on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

“You can call it what it was, it was a horrific homestand for us,” said Justin Turner, who filled in at shortstop for Hanley Ramirez. “I’m not speaking for everyone, but I’m looking forward to getting out on the road.”

With Ramirez, Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford out of the starting lineup, the Dodgers (14-12) lacked pop against Colorado left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, who came into the game with an ERA of 6.38.

De La Rosa (2-3) went seven innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts to pick up the win.

The Rockies (14-12) did not have the same problem solving Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, who showed up without his good fastball.

Ryu (3-2) was coming off three quality starts after going just two innings and allowing six earned runs on April 4 at home against the Giants.

Ryu could not make it a fourth consecutive quality start despite not walking a batter.

“It was just a poor game on my end,” Ryu said. “I got the ball high and they capitalized.”

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Ryu threw his fastball often at 87 mph, when he typically sits at 90-91.

“When he doesn’t have that velocity, it brings his change-up closer, and makes it more vulnerable,” Mattingly said.

Was Ryu feeling OK?

“My arm is fine, it was just a bad day,” Ryu said.

The Dodgers’ defense did not help matters.

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In the top of the second inning, Nolan Arenado had a leadoff single that extended his hitting streak to 17 games — the longest in the major leagues this season.

With two outs, De La Rosa tapped an infield single to Turner, and the runners moved up on his throwing error. After Charlie Blackmon was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Brandon Barnes poked a two-run single to center field. Matt Kemp bobbled the ball and the second run scored easily to give the Rockies a 2-1 lead.

Colorado added a run in the fifth inning when Blackmon had a leadoff double to right-center, then on a Brandon Barnes sacrifice attempt, Ryu couldn’t get a handle on it and Barnes reached base. The Rockies ran a first-and-third play, Barnes put himself in a rundown, and Turner committed to him, tagging him out running back to first while Blackmon scored to give the Rockies a 3-1 lead.

The Rockies broke the game open in the top of the sixth. Justin Morneau extended his hitting streak to 11 with a leadoff double down the left-field line. A good throw by Scott Van Slyke would have had him, but Dee Gordon could not pick the short-hop. Nolan Arenado followed with a single to left field. Van Slyke’s throw missed the cutoff man, and while the slow-footed Morneau stopped at third, Arenado took second. Then Josh Rutledge followed with a three-run home run to left field on an 0-1 pitch, which gave the Rockies a 6-1 lead and chased Ryu, who did not record an out in the inning.

Ryu went five-plus innings, allowing six earned runs on nine hits, no walks and one hit batsman, with three strikeouts. He threw 89 pitches — 64 for strikes. Colorado stars Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki were a combined 0 for 9 against Ryu.

“They really only hit two balls hard,” Dodgers catcher Tim Federowicz said. “For a guy without his best stuff to get only two balls hit hard off him is pretty good.”

Brandon League pitching two scoreless innings of relief, and Brian Wilson managing to get through one inning without allowing a run.

Gordon provided a spark in the first inning, when he reached on a bunt single, took second on a sacrifice bunt by Yasiel Puig and stole third. Gordon scored on a single by Adrian Gonzalez to give the Dodgers a brief 1-0 lead.

No Dodger besides Gordon (2 for 5) had more than one hit, but Gonzalez was 1 for 2 with an RBI and two walks. His streak of homering in three straight games came to an end.

Is Mattingly concerned after what Turner labeled a “horrific homestand?”

“I’m not willing to think this is the way it’s going to be all year,” Mattingly said. “We’re going to go through periods like this. As long as guys get ready to play and put in the work, I feel we’ll be OK.”